A Buffy connection, plus Barry explains the multiverse in 3 clips from The Flash's crossover with Supergirl

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Not even different networks (and universes) can stop DC’s small-screen heroes.

CBS has released some new clips from tonight’s epic Supergirl crossover episode, featuring Grant Gustin’s Flash from The CW’s hit series in a guest role. The footage is, as expected, really fun. We get to see Barry Allen geeking out as he explores this new world (“Is that a spaceship?!”), plus a glimpse at his initial meeting with Supergirl. Turns out, he thinks she’s a damsel in distress and tries to save her. Oh, Barry.

Producer Andrew Kreisberg, who works on both series, chatted with Collider about how the episode fits into the grand scheme of both shows. First up, he explained why we haven’t seen this crossover set up on The Flash yet: Due to the cross-network wackiness, they weren’t able to hit the scheduling just right. So Tuesday night’s Flash episode will tease his trip to Supergirl’s universe. So, yeah, look out for that.

He also confirmed (for the 100th time) that the two shows are set in different universes, meaning there is no Superman in the Arrow-verse. But that doesn’t mean we couldn’t have more crossovers. One place to keep an eye on? The CW’s Legends of Tomorrow series, as Kreisberg confirmed the Waverider time ship at the center of that show can “go anywhere” — including alternate universes (apparently). So, that could make for an easy entry point for future crossovers.

Kreisberg said he views the crossover “Worlds Finest” as a gimmick episode, with The Flash serving as a veteran hero to help bring some super-assistance (and advice) to Kara. He likened it to the acclaimed Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode “Hush,” noting that it’s a gimmick (in a good way) installment that also serves to further the plot.

Here’s an excerpt from his comments:

“One of the things that I was most gratified about, and part of the reason I got so excited in doing it, was that it isn’t just a gimmick episode. Supergirl really needed him this week because of the things that she’s been dealing with. I called Grant and said, ‘Do you want to do this? You’re going to get to be Oliver.’ And he was like, ‘I’m going to have to be all dark and brooding?’ And I was like, ‘No, no, no, no, no. In the same way that, in the pilot, you were just starting out and Oliver was the one who had been doing it for awhile, he was able to be the voice of reason and help you out. That’s what you’re going to be for Kara. Kara is just starting out and she’s had a crisis of conscience because of the Red Kryptonite.

I always think back to ‘Hush’ from Buffy. On its own, that’s the one where nobody could hear anything or speak, but it was more than that. It was an episode that started with everybody having trouble communicating, and then suddenly, their means of communication was taken away from them, and by the end, because they couldn’t talk, some people moved their relationships forward, but Buffy and Riley didn’t know what to say to each other because all of their secrets were out. That, to me, is emblematic of a great ‘gimmick’ episode. Whenever we’re doing one of these cross-overs, we try to do more than just Oliver visiting Barry. With this one, it felt like The Flash coming to Supergirl really helped Supergirl overcome the challenge that she had been dealing with, and his advice to her, about how she should be living her life, is about to have repercussions. That it was constructed in that way always felt really special to me.”